Leucothoe plant name ‘ReJoyce’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Leucothoe  plant named ‘ReJoyce’ that is characterized by its wine red and orange foliage that changes to green in summer and then back to wine-red and orange in the fall, its good tolerance to summer heat, its good tolerance to colder temperatures, its compact and arching habit, its easy propagation; allowing 2 to 3 rounds of cuttings per year, and its resistance to fungal diseases.

Botanical classification: Leucothoe axillaris.

Variety denomination: ‘ReJoyce’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Leucothoe axillaris. The new Leucothoe will hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘ReJoyce’. ‘ReJoyce’ is a new cultivar of evergreen shrub grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor in spring of 2013 as a found seedling growing in a container at a nursery in Elmer, N.J. amongst seedlings from unnamed and unpatented plants of Leucothoe axillaris.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in June of 2014 in Elmer, N.J. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘ReJoyce’ as a unique cultivar of Leucothoe.

-   -   1. ‘ReJoyce’ exhibits wine red and orange foliage that changes         to green in summer and then back to wine-red and orange in the         fall.     -   2. ‘ReJoyce’ exhibits good tolerance to summer heat.     -   3. ‘ReJoyce’ exhibits good tolerance to colder temperatures.     -   4. ‘ReJoyce’ exhibits a compact and arching plant habit.     -   5. ‘ReJoyce’ exhibits ease of propagation, allowing 2 to 3         rounds of cuttings per year.     -   6. ‘ReJoyce’ exhibits resistance to fungal diseases.

Typical plants of the parent species, Leucothoe axillaris, differ from ‘ReJoyce’ in having a less full and less compact plant habit, in lacking vibrant spring and fall foliage color, and in having less heat resistance, disease resistance and cold hardiness. ‘ReJoyce’ can be most closely compared to Leucothoe axillaris ‘Curly Red’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,666), Leucothoe hybrid ‘Little Flames’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,246) and typical plants of Leucothoe fontanesiana scarletta (not patented). ‘Curly Red’ is similar to ‘ReJoyce’ in having a compact plant habit and in foliage color, ‘Curly Red’ differs from ‘ReJoyce’ in having a more upright plant habit, curly foliage, and less distinguished foliage color and in being harder to propagate and less tolerant to heat and cold. ‘Little Flames’ is similar to ‘ReJoyce’ in having a compact plant habit, but differs from in being of hybrid origin (L. fontanesiana x L. axillaris) and having a more upright plant habit and new foliage that is less bright red in color. Typical plants of Leucothoe fontanesiana scarletta are similar to ‘ReJoyce’ in flower characteristics and foliage color, but differ from ‘ReJoyce’ in having a less compact growth habit, less tolerance to heat and cold and in being less resistant to powdery and downy mildew.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar. The plant in the photograph is 3 years in age as grown outdoors in a 3-gallon container in Elmer, N.J. The photograph provides a view of a foliage coloration and plant habit of ‘ReJoyce’. The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Leucothoe.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 1 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 1-gallon containers in Elmer, N.J. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Early summer in New Jersey.         -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, arching.         -   Plant size.—Reaches 30 cm in height and 36 cm in spread as a             4 year-old plant in the landscape, 25 cm in height and width             in a one-gallon container.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5b.         -   Diseases and pests.—Has shown resistance to powdery mildew             caused by Erysiphe azalea, downy mildew caused by             Phyllactinia sp. and Ersiphe sp., and leaf spot, leaf wilt             and shoot die back caused by Cylindrocladium scoparium.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, moderately dense, 165C in color.         -   Environments conditions.—Has shown good tolerant to the heat             in summer in Southern climates and good cold tolerance.         -   Root development.—4 to 6 weeks to initiate roots and 8 to 12             months to produce a young plant in a 1-gallon container.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings, readily propagated with             2 to 3 rounds of cuttings per year.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded to oval.         -   Branch color.—Young; 176B, mature; 144A and suffused in             areas with 176B.         -   Branch size.—Up to 25 cm in length and an average of 2 mm in             diameter, lateral branches when pinched an average of 8 cm             in length and 2 mm in width.         -   Branch surface texture.—Satiny and densely covered with very             fine pubescence when young and mature.         -   Branch aspect.—Upright with upper portion slightly pendant,             slightly zig-zag on apical portion of stem.         -   Branching.—Basal branching, an average of 8 basal branches             with pruning encouraging an average of 3 lateral branches             per basal branch. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate with tip slightly pointed downward.         -   Leaf aspect.—Slightly concave.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, not conspicuous, 146A in color on             upper surface, mid rib 145B and other veins 137D in color on             lower surface.         -   Leaf margins.—Finely serrate with small spines at serration             apex.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; glabrous and glossy, lower             surface; glabrous and satiny.         -   Leaf size.—Up to 10 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 12 per stem 25 cm in length.         -   Leaf color.—New growth and fall color upper surface; a blend             of 172A and 144C, new growth and fall color lower surface;             145B and very slightly diffused with 172A, mature growth             upper surface; color between 137A and NN137C with tip of             apex 183A, mature growth lower surface; 147C.         -   Petioles.—An average of 6 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width,             182A in color, glossy and sparsely pubescent surface             texture, strong. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Raceme, average of 3 cm in length and 1.5 cm             in width, 12 per lateral stem, color; immature raceme             unopened overall color 187A, maturing raceme before flower             opening overall color is a blend of 146A and 184A.         -   Flower fragrance.—Light.         -   Flower Lastingness.—Average of 3 weeks, self cleaning.         -   Flower bud description.—Ovate in shape, an average of 3 mm             in length and width, glabrous surface, 144B in color.         -   Flower quantity.—Average of 75 per lateral stem.         -   Flower aspect.—Held outward to upright.         -   Flower shape.—Campanulate.         -   Flower size.—An average of 6 mm in depth and 5 mm in             diameter.         -   Rachis (Peduncles).—Average of 1.5 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter, held in an upright to outward angle, a blend of             145A and 145C in color, moderate in strength, surface             glabrous.         -   Pedicels.—Average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter             with an average angle to stem of 45°, 155A in color,             moderate in strength, surface glabrous.         -   Bracts.—1 at the base of each flower, 3 mm in length and             width, acute apex, cuneate base, entire margins, inner and             outer surfaces glabrous and 145A in color, flushed with 184A             at the apex and margins in color.         -   Sepals.—5, average of 3 mm in length, 2 mm in width, entire             margin, acute apex, cuneate base, inner and outer surfaces             are smooth and dull in appearance, color of inner and outer             surfaces are 155A, apex flushed with 144A.         -   Petals.—5, average of 7 mm in length and 3 mm in width,             fused into bell shape, apex is 1 mm in length and width,             ovate in shape and curled downward, cuneate base, margins             are fused, inner and outer surfaces are velvety and matte in             appearance, color when opening and fully open both surfaces;             NN155C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Stamens; average of 7, anthers; basifixed, 1 mm in             diameter, 174A in color with a spot of 11C in color on apex,             filament; 2 mm in length, translucent and NN155C in color,             pollen not observed.         -   Pistils.—Pistil; 1, stigma; flattened and rounded in shape,             1 mm in diameter, 16D in color, style; an average of 3 mm in             length, 1 mm in diameter, 157D in color, ovary; superior,             round in shape, glabrous surface, 144B in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—None have been observed to form to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Leucothoe plant named ‘ReJoyce’ as herein illustrated and described. 